HEARTBREAKING SHOCK: Angel Reese’s Emotional Response to the Texas Flood Tragedy

In a world where headlines often focus on sports rivalries and on-court drama, a devastating tragedy has united hearts far beyond the basketball arena. Angel Reese, one of the most prominent figures in women’s basketball, found herself overwhelmed with grief and compassion upon hearing the shocking news of the catastrophic Texas flood. While serving a suspension that kept her away from the game she loves, Reese’s world was rocked by the harrowing reports: 51 lives lost, and, most gut-wrenching of all, 27 innocent girls missing in the aftermath.

The Moment Angel Reese Heard the News

Angel Reese, known for her fierce competitiveness and passionate spirit, was left reeling when she first learned of the disaster. “It felt like my heart was being ripped out,” she later recalled in a tearful interview. As the details emerged—families losing everything, entire neighborhoods submerged, and the desperate search for missing children—Reese’s own struggles seemed insignificant compared to the pain and suffering gripping Texas.

She admitted that the news hit her especially hard because of the missing girls. “I just kept thinking about those families, those mothers and fathers,” Reese said, her voice trembling. “No one should ever have to experience this kind of pain. No one.”

A Star Athlete’s Compassionate Response

Rather than retreat into her own troubles, Angel Reese chose to channel her grief into action. Despite being in the midst of a personal and professional crisis due to her suspension, she immediately made a public call for support. Through social media and interviews, Reese pleaded with her fans and the broader community to come together and help the victims of the Texas flood.

“I know what it’s like to feel lost and helpless,” she shared. “But together, we can bring hope to those who need it most right now. Please, if you can, donate, volunteer, or just spread the word. Every little bit helps.”

A Massive Donation: $500,000 to Aid Recovery

But Reese’s compassion didn’t stop at words. In a move that stunned both fans and critics, she announced her decision to donate a staggering $500,000 to relief efforts in Texas. The donation, directed to reputable organizations on the ground, is aimed at providing immediate assistance to families who have lost homes, children, and any semblance of normalcy.

Reese explained her motivation simply: “I’ve been blessed with so much because of basketball and the people who support me. It’s only right that I give back in a moment like this. Money can’t replace what’s been lost, but it can help rebuild, provide shelter, and maybe offer some comfort to those who are hurting the most.”

Her gesture was met with widespread praise, not only from the sports community but from people across the country. Social media lit up with messages of gratitude and admiration, with many calling Reese a true role model for using her platform and resources to make a real difference.

The Human Side of a Sports Icon

For many, Angel Reese’s response to the Texas flood tragedy revealed a side of her that goes beyond her athletic prowess. Her willingness to bear witness to the pain of others, to cry openly for the lost and missing, and to act decisively in the face of disaster, struck a chord with countless fans.

“She’s always been a fighter on the court, but this shows she’s got the heart of a champion off the court too,” said one supporter. “It takes courage to be vulnerable and to step up when it really matters.”

Reese’s actions also sparked a wave of additional donations and volunteer efforts. Inspired by her example, several other athletes and celebrities pledged support, amplifying the impact of her initial gift. Relief organizations reported a noticeable uptick in contributions in the days following her announcement.

A Message of Hope Amidst Tragedy

While the road to recovery for Texas will be long and difficult, Angel Reese’s compassion has brought a glimmer of hope to those facing unimaginable loss. She continues to use her voice and influence to keep attention focused on the needs of flood victims, urging others not to forget about the families still searching for loved ones or struggling to rebuild their lives.

In a recent statement, Reese summed up her feelings: “Tragedy can strike any of us at any time. But it’s how we respond—how we lift each other up—that defines who we are. I’ll keep doing whatever I can to help, and I hope others will too.”

Conclusion

The Texas flood crisis has left a deep scar on the nation, claiming dozens of lives and leaving families shattered. Yet in the midst of heartbreak, acts of kindness and solidarity shine through. Angel Reese’s emotional response and extraordinary generosity stand as a testament to the power of empathy and action. As the people of Texas begin the long process of healing, they do so knowing they are not alone—thanks in part to the compassion of a sports star who refused to look away.

SEE MORE: The real reason WNBA players ranked Caitlin Clark so low in All-Star voting

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The WNBA All-Star game is headed to Indianapolis in a few weeks, and the starters for the big event were announced earlier in the week. The voting to choose the starters was weighted 50% with fan votes, 25% with media ballots, ans 25% with the players making a ballot themselves. In the end, Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark were named captains of the teams with the most fan votes.

Joining them in the starting group will be Paige Bueckers, Nneka Ogwumike, Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, Allisha Gray, Breanna Stewart, Aliyah Boston and Satou Sabally.

As always, the full voting breakdown was released by the WNBA, but this year, one factor shocked fans: Caitlin Clark was ranked No. 9 among guards by her peers, the players.

However, despite the outrage by some Clark fans online, the Fever star getting ranked a little lower by players isn’t about jealousy or resentment, because it actually… makes sense for basketball reasons. Stay with me here!

First, players are making these choices based on everyone’s performances this season. Not a player’s potential on paper, not their 2024 season, not their accolades and records, or how much interest they bring to the WNBA. Simply how they have played in the first 15ish games of 2025.

When you contextualize it like that, a few facts come to mind about Clark’s 2025 season:

She’s only played in nine games so far, as she’s been in and out with injury. First, it was the quad strain that kept her out for three weeks; now she’s been out with a groin injury. That’s only in the 29th percentile of the league for games played this season, per Her Hoop Stats.

Clark ranks 12th in the WNBA in points per game (18.2), 13th in field goals made (6.1 per game), 88th in three-point percentage (29.5%), 3rd in three-pointers made (2.6 per game), 35th in rebounds per game (5.0), 2nd in assists per game (8.9), 1st in turnovers per game (5.9), and 14th in steals per game (1.6).

Players very likely took a look at these stats when making their choices for All-Star voting. They also watch a ton of film just in their everyday training, in order to learn the scouting report on opponents and prepare for games. They aren’t going to have the same allegiances fans have, and know these stats and how much they affect games better than anyone.

The players do not hate Clark, and these votes aren’t evidence of some grand conspiracy against her; if anything, they respect her enough to rank her fairly despite some of her struggles. The conspiracy that everyone is out to get Clark, that everyone hates her, just infantilizes her more. She can handle criticism of her game because, hopefully, it will make her better.

Constructive criticism and challenges are good things for anyone, regardless of what kind of career you have. Take writing, for example — if no one gives writers notes, they would never know how to become better writers. It’s the same for players — how can they look at the stats they rank lower in and make adjustments to their games to improve?

It’s good that Clark hasn’t hit her peak in her second professional season. We want her to get better. Imagine how fun that will be to watch? She’s also had a challenging season physically, as her body adjusts to playing more games in a shorter amount of time. In college, they play once a week, if not less, and anyone would need to adjust to playing nearly every other day. When you add on how much Clark does on the floor as well, her body needing time to rest makes sense too.

All of this being said, it’s okay that she got ranked No. 9 among guards. She’s still a starter, she’s still a captain, she’ll be at the game. She’s a great player with great potential, but these players’ votes are purely about the season she is having right now.